virtenvi

Slide 1:Web-Based Support for Software Engineering Group Projects

University of Durham Department of Computer Science Cornelia Boldyreff Sarah Drummond Robert Walker

Slide 2:Presentation outline

The structure of undergraduate Software Engineering Group (SEG) projects Web-based submission of project deliverables Supporting teamwork with network-based groupware

Slide 3:Developments in 1996-97

How it was in the past…. Electronic hand-in via WWW Advantages readily available browsers student familiarity/ease of use explicit links to earlier development work visible/accessible record of student work lower overhead costs Advantages: Use Netscape Gold WYSIWYG no prrior knowledte of htmlv: familiarity backwards traceability can incorporate links to earlier work I.e. acceptance testing back to requirements accpetance criteria simple things like glossary, index : ideal medium ease of access for req appraisal and easier for staff marking (no piles of reports) Printing cost down. Before each member of a group doing appraisal would print copies of other groups docs - horrendous comsuption of paper. Advantages: Use Netscape Gold WYSIWYG no prrior knowledte of htmlv: familiarity backwards traceability can incorporate links to earlier work I.e. acceptance testing back to requirements accpetance criteria simple things like glossary, index : ideal medium ease of access for req appraisal and easier for staff marking (no piles of reports) Printing cost down. Before each member of a group doing appraisal would print copies of other groups docs - horrendous comsuption of paper.

Slide 4:Objectives

Apply results from JTAP project To provide immediate and long term network support for locally based SEG work introduction of computer based collaboration both synchronous (desktop video conferencing) and asynchronous (shared workspace) prepare web-based training materials work with remotely based industrial supervisors

Slide 5:Results of the JTAP Project

Setup small collaborative working laboratory and developed documentation Evaluated CSCW software Pilot experiments

Slide 6:Work so far...

Dedicated SEG collaborative working laboratory Multi-media PCs; desktop video conferencing facilities On-line booking form On-line tutorials and course work materials Creation of a virtual environment for student group work “SEGWorld”

Slide 7:A Virtual Environment“SEGWorld”

BSCW(Basic Support for Cooperative Work) Shared workspaces - public and private Supports independent platforms via WWW interface Integrates with other synchronous communications tools Public domain Hierarchical structure - many levels Flexibility

Slide 8:Trial Usage

Introduction to desktop video conferencing familiarisation with concepts and technologies SEG students typical software engineering tasks performed meetings with tutors/industrial advisors Experiments by final year project students involving SEG students

Slide 9:Summary

Web-based delivery of student work Development of a virtual environment Introduction of desktop video conferencing Production of web-based training and course work materials Trial usage of both synchronous and asynchronous technologies - 2nd and 3rd year students